What We Must Stop Before Its Momentum Destroys Us All

The final scene in this week's episode of "Madam Secretary" has the Secretary of State commenting upon a nuclear arms agreement between India and Pakistan (okay, it's a TV show) in the wake of an assassination attempt at the White House (ditto). Her comments about the threat of hyper-nationalism should be taken in slowly, and with careful reflection, by all. I believe it was written by someone with his/her finger on the pulse of what's really going on in this nation--and the hair trigger on which someone else's finger is poised. I reproduce the bulk of those comments here:

What is an even greater threat than nuclear weapons? That which makes the use of them possible: Hate. Specifically, the blind hatred one group or nation has for another. And that is why I am convinced that nationalism is the existential threat of our time....

Nationalism is not the same as patriotism. It is a perversion of patriotism....Nationalism promotes the idea that diversity and inclusion represent weakness, that the only way to succeed is to give blind allegiance to one race over all others. Nothing could be less American.

Patriotism, on the other hand, is about building each other up, and embracing our diversity is the source of our nation's strength. "We the people" means all the people.

America's heroes didn't die for a race or region; they died for the ideals enshrined in our Constitution: Above all, freedom from tyranny. It requires, above all, our unwavering support of a free press, freedom of religion--all religions--the right to vote, and making sure nothing infringes on any of those rights, which belong to all.

Look where isolationism has gotten us in the past: Two world wars. Seventy million dead. Never again can we go back to those dark times, when fear and hatred, like a contagion, infected the world....And it is why we must never lose sight of our common humanity, our common values, and our common decency.

I was reminded our our nation's founding motto: E pluribus unum--out of many, one. Thirteen disperate colonies became one country, one people. Today, we call on all Americans and people everywhere to reject the courage of nationalism. Because governments can't legislate tolerance or eradicate hate. 

That's why each of us has to find the beauty in our differences instead of the fear, listen instead of reacting, reaching out instead of recoiling. It's up to us--all of us.

Be well. See you down the road.

Mister Mark